1to notice or become aware of somethingperceive somethingI perceived a change in his behaviour.perceive that…She perceived that all was not well.perceive somebody/something to be/have somethingThe patient was perceived to have difficulty in breathing.This pattern is usually used in the passive.

2to understand or think of somebody/something in a particular waysynonymseeperceive somebody/something/yourself (as something)This discovery was perceived as a major breakthrough.She did not perceive herself as disabled.A science degree and artistic interests are often perceived as incompatible.perceive somebody/something to be/have somethingThey were widely perceived to have been unlucky.This pattern is usually used in the passive.

Word Familyperceiveverbperceptionnounperceptiveadjectiveperceptibleadjective(≠imperceptible)Word OriginMiddle English: from a variant of Old Frenchperçoivre, from Latinpercipere

‘seize, understand’

, from per-

‘entirely’

+ capere

‘take’

.Extra examplesIt is widely perceived as a women’s health problem, but it does also affect men.Risks are perceived differently by different people.The General’s words were perceived as a threat by countries in the region.The industrial bias of canal building can be readily perceived by looking at Figure 7.3.The remedy for the problem was only dimly perceived by scientists until recently.the world of directly perceived objectsI perceived a change in his behaviour over those months.She perceived that all was not well within the organization.